NEED A DUVET DAY?
Lose the guilt - it's good for you. Read on to find out why.....
Hello, you fab women, you!
I hope this issue finds you hale and hearty and enjoying all that this time of year can bring. Have you noticed one or two trees are already wearing their Autumn colours and the odd leaf falls in front of you when you’re driving along?
I think it is a little early - we’re not at the end of September yet - but I think what we’re seeing is the result of having a decent summer (for once!). But, I think I can live with an early (and perhaps longer) Autumn if it means it’s preceded by a warm, sun strewn summer. Can’t you?
This issue is all about Duvet Days. And if you don’t know what one is - take a look at the paragraph following.
But the thing about Duvet Days is that yes, they’re often needed to recharge and heal, but don’t we one hell of a guilt in doing so?
The reason why I’m talking about this now is for two reasons. With the oncoming Autumn and less daylight being available as the year goes on, we naturally want to retreat more and hibernate. And that stems back to our prehistoric beings where we were naturally programmed to do so as it often saved our lives. The problem is that the modern day brain and nervous system still thinks we’re in those prehistoric times. It hasn’t caught up with our modern world, sadly.
And the other reason is that I had a Duvet Day recently. And although I felt madly guilty about it, it did help.
You see, if you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I recently lost my mother - my last remaining parent. And although I’m doing okay, now and again I get side-swiped by grief and it confines me to the sofa. And that was last Sunday.
Now, after doing research into the best way to process and move on from loss, I found that all the experts tell you to lean into the bad days (when you can, of course) and let them take their course. As this helps to traverse the grief journey more smoothly.
So that’s what I did. But, even on a Sunday, I still felt madly guilty, so whilst I was lying there I did a bit of research to see what the experts say about giving into Duvet Days.
And, it was all good. In fact they recommend taking a Duvet Day every now and then.
Here’s what I found in more detail
The Power of a Duvet Day: Why Doing Nothing is a Gift to Yourself
In our busy lives, especially for women in midlife and beyond, taking a day off just to rest can feel like a rare treat. But what if a “duvet day” — a day spent wrapped in comfort doing nothing — is much more than a treat? It could be a powerful tool for mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
What is a Duvet Day?
A duvet day is simply a day when you give yourself permission to rest fully—no housework, no work, no guilt—just time to relax and recharge. Whether wrapped up reading, catching up on sleep, or simply resting, the benefits extend far beyond a moment of indulgence.
Why Midlife Women Need This Most
Midlife women often juggle many roles—career pressures, caregiving responsibilities, hormonal shifts—and that can add up to stress and exhaustion. Giving yourself a day to pause and do nothing can help break the cycle of burnout and support long-term vitality.
Science-Backed Benefits
Further research on taking Duvet Days threw up the following. It contributed to:
Reduced Stress: Taking time out lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, which helps reduce anxiety and supports heart health. Chronic stress, if left unchecked, can undermine memory, mood, and immune function.
Boosted Immunity: Research shows that rest improves immune response. A study from the University of Pennsylvania highlights how catching up on rest sharpens alertness and supports the body’s ability to fight illness.
Better Sleep Quality: Hormonal changes in midlife can disrupt sleep. A duvet day gives your body a chance to recalibrate the sleep cycle, promoting deeper, more restorative sleep afterward.
Long-Term Wellbeing: Making rest a regular practice reduces the risk of burnout, supports cognitive health, and fosters emotional resilience needed for the challenges of midlife and beyond.
What Science Says About Doing Nothing
Modern research reveals that periods of rest activate the brain’s default mode network, crucial for creativity, reflection, and emotional regulation. Sleep scientists emphasize that additional rest after busy periods genuinely benefits brain and body recovery.
How to Enjoy Your Duvet Day - no guilt please!
Listen to your body fully without guilt.
Create a cozy, tech-free environment.
Ease into gentle self-care like a warm bath or light stretching.
Allow yourself to do nothing productive—it’s okay not to be busy.
Embrace the Culture of Rest
Taking a duvet day isn’t just about feeling good now—it’s an important investment in your long-term health. There’s nothing more important that looking after ourselves both physically and mentally at this stage in our lives so if drilling down on the sofa for the day helps you to bounce back the following day, then isn’t it worth it?
Sometimes, doing nothing is the best thing you can do.
Give yourself that gift of a duvet day—you deserve it for today and the years to come.
Connected with taking a day out, scientific research is discovering just how vital a good nights sleep is during our mid and later years.
And hormonal changes leading up to and after the menopause is one of the main causes of poor sleep in women in this demographic.
I know - for 4 years I was one of them. And I spent 4 long years trying anything and everything trying to regain the sleep I had enjoyed in my earlier years. Eventually I found the handful of things that allow me to sleep well again and I documented all these into an e-book that I produced a while ago.
Now, why I’m including this now (and also that fact that I’m offering the book at 50% until the end of September) is that the change from Summer to Autumn and the lessening daylight is a big factor in sleep disturbances.
It can introduce disturbed sleep patterns and make any existing sleep problems worse. And so, knowing how prevalent sleep problems are (1 in 3 of us experience sleep problems at any one time, per the NHS), I’ve decided to offer the discount of my book to try and help those who are suffering with insomnia.
The cover price of the book is usually £7.18, but I’m offering until the 30th September at £3.59 - a 50% saving.
If you’d like to take a look at the book, you can find it here .
If you do get a copy for yourself, firstly - my grateful thanks - and secondly - I hope it helps.
I wish you nights and nights of blissful, refreshing sleep
So, that’s a wrap from me. I hope this one helps. Let me know if you have any comments or ideas.
Otherwise, stay safe & well and I’ll see you next time.
Una x